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Original poster

Stupid things customers ask on Xmas Eve Eve

538 replies

Mokel · 23/12/2025 06:52

I have done enough years in supermarkets at Christmas.

I remember one question raised by a few customers when putting out bread.
”do you have any bread dated after 28th”
I said if you go to a supermarket on any other 23rd, the latest date on loaves is 28th. As the bakeries always put the date as X days ahead, regardless of the time of year. I remember seeing one of these customers on Jan 23rd and asked them could they find a date longer than 28th. They couldn’t. Retail worker 1 customer 0.

”Is it possible to collect my turkey on Xmas Day?” Erm no.

OP posts:
itsmeits · 23/12/2025 08:45

What happens if my gas/electricity runs out tomorrow........ Top it up now then!

Abittrumpy · 23/12/2025 08:44

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GoodQueenWenceslaus · 23/12/2025 08:44

GeminiGiggles · 23/12/2025 07:34

People wanting christmas trees 😡 we started putting them out in October (much to our own disgust) - you had plenty of time I promise.

That's one thing I don't understand - real Christmas trees were out in November. They couldn't possibly survive till Christmas, so who on earth buys them?

Periperi2025 · 23/12/2025 08:43

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

A lot of people get home delivery normally and only visit the store at Christmas as they can't get delivery slots. I thought your job was too know where things are and direct people to them.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 23/12/2025 08:42

In ours - not particularly Christmas related but all year round - 'do you sell newspapers?' I always wanted to reply (but was far too nice to) 'we're a fucking supermarket, what do you think?' But instead I would direct them to aisle five, where a frankly fucking enormous sign hung saying 'newspapers'.

My first year out of retail and I am praying for my poor colleagues.

Abittrumpy · 23/12/2025 08:42

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SledgingSlide · 23/12/2025 08:41

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

Eggs are the hardest thing to find! They have no natural home and aren’t even in the dairy section often!

Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:40

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Yes but if you want Warbies, Hovis, majority of their lines have 5 days on their shelf life

OP posts:
SushiForMe · 23/12/2025 08:40

Namechangetry · 23/12/2025 07:54

I remember seeing one of these customers on Jan 23rd and asked them could they find a date longer than 28th. They couldn’t. Retail worker 1 customer 0.

That's unpleasant. Why would people who've not worked in that job know the usual best before dates of bread? It's not like they kicked off because there were no mince pies on Xmas eve or something.

Exactly, I was expecting something about rude customers but not convinced by the bread example.
The eggs also: if they stopped changing where they are maybe customers wouldn’t have to ask.

Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:39

iwasfineandlight · 23/12/2025 08:28

To be fair that’s on the customers for wanting frozen roast potatoes instead of making their own

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Nothing Aunt Bessie’s should grace a Xmas dinner

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 23/12/2025 08:39

I don’t think there was anything wrong with what the “stupid” customer asked you about bread. Were you terribly smug when you informed them about the X number of days rule that you randomly think they should have known about? And as for the Retail Worker 1, Customer 0 thing - cringing for you.Hmm

Abittrumpy · 23/12/2025 08:37

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Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:36

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 23/12/2025 08:31

I can never seem to find eggs, especially in the little express stores. I wander about for ages 😂

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At my supermarket, they didn’t move in the years I was there. With the baking lines. In majority of supermarkets they are there

OP posts:
Numberblocky · 23/12/2025 08:35

I worked Christmas Eve in a department store many years ago and I remember a harassed looking man coming in about ten minutes till closing and handing me his phone where his poor wife told me he hadn't got his mother anything and could I pick something for her 😅. Honestly - he couldn't even ask me himself. This was a smartly dressed, professional looking man in his forties. Anyway, I picked her a dress. It was kind of funny, but if my own husband did that, I'd be mortified

Original poster
Mokel · 23/12/2025 08:34

Dgll · 23/12/2025 07:29

Crackers and Christmas food are often on discount after Christmas so I don't think it is stupid to at least think there might be a chance that there are some left. Knowing the standard best before dates on bread is also quite job specific knowledge.

Each year when I worked at the supermarket, we had one item that sold out. One year it was crackers, one year, paper napkins (Xmas ones and normal) and bottles of Buck’s Fizz. Customers were up in arms about the latter. I smiled and pointed out the 000s bottles of prosecco and cartons of orange juice. I said it’s twice the price of the premixed stuff, but so much nicer and boozier! 😉

Then another year, we had hundreds of boxes of crackers left. They went down to £1 for 6 posh ones that were £18 before Xmas

OP posts:
Cleikumstovies · 23/12/2025 08:33

"Can have a prescription, I've run out of my happy pills " - at 5.29 on Christmas eve!

AnneElliott · 23/12/2025 08:32

I used to work for M&S and we had 2 women literally fight over the last pot of single cream one Xmas Eve. They managed to split it (so neither of them had it) and I made them pay half each as I was so annoyed they’d behaved like twats.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 23/12/2025 08:31

Emas82 · 23/12/2025 06:53

Where's the eggs? X 100000000

I can never seem to find eggs, especially in the little express stores. I wander about for ages 😂

iwasfineandlight · 23/12/2025 08:28

Stephy1886 · 23/12/2025 07:47

Xmas eve we would run out of frozen roast potatoes

Folk really upset and couldn't believe it

People wanting to go into the warehouse to look for themselves because they didn't believe you

We would also sell out of certain crates of beer. The drinks isle was mad all day

Folk saying "it's a present for X"

To be fair that’s on the customers for wanting frozen roast potatoes instead of making their own

Loveapineapplepizzame · 23/12/2025 08:25

LOL I think I was one of those customers lastnight!! In Tesco asking if they still had any outdoor Christmas lights still in…… 😅

Thank the Lord for Amazon!!! And their next day delivery!! Like a Christmas miracle

Bikergran · 23/12/2025 08:16

My mother owned an antique shop. Beautiful, genuine, high-end stuff. She sold jewellery, and would always make sure she had a few expensive "showstopper" pieces in for Christmas. Often these hadn't sold by Christmas Eve, but she deliberately stayed open until about 8pm (this was before the days of shopping malls, when everything shut at 5, or earlier on Christmas eve). Every single year there would be some desperate disorganised man who would pay ANYTHING so he didn't have to face his wife the next day without a gift for her.

BlackCoffeeAndSugar · 23/12/2025 08:11

I used to work in Tesco and people would steal things out of otherbpeoples trolley

ChubbyPuffling · 23/12/2025 08:10

Went shopping at M and S food yesterday morning 7am... heard people asking for things they used to get 10/20 years ago... "do you know where I can get that frozen chocolatey dome dessert?" One shopper piped up "1997 love"😆

People have learned that the shops open early xmas week, was not the same quiet experience we had previous years! Though there were many very helpful assistants around to help.

hannonle · 23/12/2025 08:09

Someone coming back 2 days later on Christmas eve to get "fresher vegetables "

Erm, they're probably already sitting in the stockroom. No more fresher than today's ones. Why put yourself through trying to shop on Christmas eve for that?

Namechangetry · 23/12/2025 07:54

I remember seeing one of these customers on Jan 23rd and asked them could they find a date longer than 28th. They couldn’t. Retail worker 1 customer 0.

That's unpleasant. Why would people who've not worked in that job know the usual best before dates of bread? It's not like they kicked off because there were no mince pies on Xmas eve or something.

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